EU requests Google delete Street View images after 6 months

Google is facing further opposition to its Street View service in Europe. This time it’s not an issue with the information being collected, but just how long it is kept for.

Currently Google keeps the original Street View images on file for 12 months in their unedited form. Google states it needs to do this in case a mistake is made in the edited version where faces are blurred out. It also uses the data to help teach its automated system to recognize faces better and blur them out.

Regulators from the European Union are requesting that Google cut that time in half and only retain the data for six months. A further request asks Google to keep local residents better informed of when Street View vehicles will be capturing data, so they can better choose to stay off camera if possible.

Google is not going to change its data retention policy at the drop of a hat, though. It has labelled the 12 month time frame as “legitimate and justified”.

The request for these changes were made in a letter sent by the head of EU data protection agencies, Alan Turk. It was addressed to Peter Fleischer, Google’s data privacy chief.

Although Google may argue the point about Street View data retention, the chances are, the search giant will end up having to make the adjustment. Google has already agreed to make compromises in some European countries. In Germany Google agreed to delete Street View data, and in Greece the Data Protection Authority managed to stop the collection of data. Outside of Europe, Japan managed to negotiate a reshoot following complaints.

On the issue of public notification, Google does let everyone know where Street View vehicles are operating. This is done via the “Where if Street View available” web page, but requires users visit the page and regularly check the locations. I think the EU just want Google to do more to let people know. For example, why can’t they do a regular e-mail to those who want it letting them know where the cars are each week?